1846.] Horticulture. 117 



thrown into the road — are excellent manures, and at the same 

 time keep the soil loose and mellow. 



Carting in sand is another labor-saving operation. It will last 

 for ages, and prevent many a hard thrust of the spade, or stroke 

 of the hoe. Let me suggest, however, that a stiff soil is broken 

 most by coarse sand; and from observation, I incline to believe 

 that one load of this kind will do as much good as several loads 

 where the particles are very fine. 



The effect of blacksmiths' cinders, when broken and applied, 

 and burning the soil, which I have also tried to some extent, are 

 both remarkable for loosening and fertilizing at the same time; 

 and it may afford some encouragement to reflect that these are 

 permanent improvements — to benefit posterity as much as our- 

 selves. The crops from old coal pits, burnt brush heaps, or the 

 sites of old buildings, will sufficiently illustrate these remarks. 



The radish, like the watermelon, delights in sandy soil. We 

 use sharp sand and vegetable earth in equal portions; and it is so 

 loose that a man might easily thrust in his arm up to the elbow. 

 A bed of this kind would yield a full and constant supply of ra- 

 dishes for a family — provided a seed were dropped in, whenever 

 a root were drawn out; and such a bed would serve during a long 

 life. A frame of boards, rising two inches above the surface, 

 prevents the ground on the outside from intermixing. 



In applying manure, one thing is important: it should be mix- 

 ed with the soil most thoroughly and completely — no two particles 

 of the one (if possible) should be without a particle of the other 

 between them. Why do some cultivators say that fresh stable 

 manure is injurious, especially in dry seasons? Because they ap- 

 ply it in a slovenly manner. In the summer of '41 — the dry est 

 for many years — I had land manured in this way, w'hich was al- 

 ways moist, the plants not appearing to suffer in the least; but 

 then it was plowed several times before planting, W'ith six har- 

 rowings in immediate succession. 



Forty-five years ago, in this neighborhood, strawberries were 

 abundant in the open woods, and parties w^ent several miles to 

 gather them. In a few years, however, scarcely a plant was left 

 by the cattle; and very little w^as known of this fruit, by a great 

 part of our population, for it was rarely cultivated in gardens. 

 Tw^enty years ago in Geneva, however, I sat down at the table of 

 a friend which was garnished with two large dishes of strawber- 

 ries — one white, the other red. I had never seen so fine a dis- 

 play; and it did me good in more ways than one; for I have 

 often since seen my own table ornamented in a similar manner. 



The cherry, plum, pear, apricot and peach, as well as the 

 smaller fruits, deserve our attention : but I have detained you too 

 long already to enter into particulars. 



